New hearing set for Ann Arbor defense attorney charged with sexual assault

The 30-year-old Ann Arbor defense attorney charged in a sexual assault case had an evidentiary hearing set for May 30 when he appeared before Judge Darlene O'Brien in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Thursday, according to court records.

Nader Nassif's attorney, Joe Simon, said the hearing was set in response to a motion he is planning to file that could potentially need a hearing where evidence and testimony are presented.

This is the third time a pretrial hearing has been adjourned in the case. Attorneys at the last hearing hinted their could be numerous motions filed before the case ever makes it to trial.

Nassif, a former member of Ann Arbor's Downtown Development Authority, is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct, possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine and possession of ecstasy. Nassif was also a partner at the legal firm contracted by the city to defend indigent persons in the 15th District Court.

Nassif is accused of having sex with a physically helpless woman on the afternoon of July 31 in his apartment in the 200 block of South Fourth Avenue.

Testimony in the case had previously shown Nassif and the woman knew each other for a period of months before she came to Ann Arbor to visit him. The two were in town together on July 29 and July 30, smoking marijuana and gathering inspiration for an art project the woman was going to do in his apartment.

According to the woman’s testimony, on July 31 she lost consciousness in Nassif’s apartment while the two were watching TV. She said the next thing she remembered was waking up to him having sex with her, against her will.

The Ann Arbor News is not naming the woman because she is the alleged victim of sexual assault.

Nassif remains free on bond.

John Counts covers crime and breaking news for The Ann Arbor News. He can be reached at johncounts@mlive.com or you can follow him on Twitter. Find all Washtenaw County crime stories here.